SD Teacher Merit-Pay Plan Goes To Public Vote

South Dakota voters will decide the fate of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's plan to give bonuses to top teachers, phase out tenure and recruit candidates for critical teaching jobs.

Secretary of State Jason Gant says the state's main teachers union, the South Dakota Education Association, has submitted enough petition signatures to refer the measure to a public vote in the November election. The law will be suspended from taking effect pending the outcome of the public vote.

The South Dakota Education Association turned in more than 30,000 petition signatures two weeks ago, and the secretary of state's office has been checking to make sure enough valid signatures were submitted to put the measure on the ballot.